Sports

Star Texas guard Andrew Jones opens up about cancer battle

Jones was forced to miss the second half of last season after being diagnosed with leukemia in January.

Written ByKirstie Chiappelli

Andrew Jones is progressing with his cancer treatment.

In a video published on The Players' Tribune this week, the star Texas guard opened up about his battle with the disease since being diagnosed with leukemia in January.

"I'm starting to embrace being a cancer survivor.... If I can inspire you just to get up in the morning, and attempt to make your life better, then I've done my job."@DrewdotCash speaks out on his battle with cancer.

"At first they thought I had a viral infection," Jones said. "Then they thought I had the flu. I'm gonna get some Theraflu, and I'll be good in a week. But it didn't get better. I went and got blood work done, and she told me it was leukemia."

Jones was forced to miss the second half of last season following his diagnosis, but was released from the hospital in February to continue receiving outpatient treatment. Still, he was left feeling disappointed and discouraged.

"It's kind of depressing because I was almost at the peak of my game," Jones said. "I was playing at a high level to make myself a potential draft pick … I started to feel rundown, started to feel heavy. It kind of feels like a dehydrating type of feeling, and it's like you don't wanna move, you just wanna lay there."

But Jones persisted and Texas coach Shaka Smart confirmed earlier this summer that he even returned to class after enrolling in online courses.

"I'm starting to embrace being a cancer survivor," Jones said. "If I can inspire you just to get up in the morning and attempt to make your life better, then I've done my job, I feel good. I've faced death twice, and I'm here by the grace of God."